Inexpensive monitoring of grid tie inverter - will my idea work?

[bobfromnj]

My idea didn't work

Thats really great. It seems that our installing company doesn't recommend any additional monitoring equipement because the system is already being monitored. The problem is that the exsisting smart meter (which uses cellular) is not that smart. It could take a few days to update. Besides the installing company wants any where from $500. to 1,000. to install a blue tooth wireless system. Kind of overpriced, since the circuit card that goes into the inverter and the wireless desktop unit cost about $300. on the internet. I guess that's why I am hoping my IP camera idea will work, since its only abouy $100. total.
Thanks for your input,
Bob

Well, it was a great idea but did not work. The IP camera was really great and not to difficult to set up. The color was great. The problem was that in total darkness (inside my garage) the camera switches to black and white. That in itself was not the issue, it seemed that a less then $100. camera could not focus close enough to read the display. I tried moving the camera at various distances to the inverter, but no luck. Needless to say I sent the camera back. Any ideas?
Bob

[dashony]

Hi there... I am a newbie here, and installed an IP camera to monitor the "kill-a-watt" wattimeter of my PV panels, I monitor it from anywhere: The Trendnet IP tv110 camera: [ATTACH=CONFIG]1627[/ATTACH] The Iphone/Ipad software to monitor from anywhere (LAN or WAN): [ATTACH=CONFIG]1626[/ATTACH] (You can also connect to the camera thru any computer and browser using the URL) A little bright here in the picture but it is better in RL: [ATTACH=CONFIG]1625[/ATTACH] The camera is cheap, the software is free, the wattimeter is cheap too.. Rod - Brazil

This is what I've done too. A $50 ip camera on the grid tie inverter meter and you can always monitor live your system from wherever you are as long as you have Internet. Here is my live streaming camera I'm happy to help with installation